VINELAND 



A NARRATIVE POEM 



BY 



BESSIE AYARS ANDREWS 



VINELAND NEW JERSEY 
191 1 



VINELAN 



r\ 



A NARRATIVE POEM 



BY 



BESSIE AYARS ANDREWS 



VINELAND NEW JERSEY 
191 I 






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(Pwnn) 



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INTRODUCTORY. 

Fifty years ago: Charles K. Landis, then a 
young man of twenty-eight, having had some 
experience in settling Haramonton, and desirous 
of establishing a new town on a much larger scale 
contracted with the owner, Richard D. Wood of 
Philadelphia, for a tract of 16,000 acres of wild 
land along the line of the recently opened Glass- 
boro and Millville Railroad. It was at the junc- 
tion of this railroad and Landis Avenue, that the 
Founder, on the Eighth of August 186 r, began 
the settlement of Vineland. 

Twenty-one years afterwards, when the wilder- 
ness had given place to a prosperous community 
with fertile farms and happy homes, Mr. Landis 
wrote an account of the beginning of this enter- 
prise, an interesting story of his efforts, trials and 
final success, which, after his death in 1900, was 
published. 

The writer of these verses has drawn upon this 
account for the facts relating to the early settle- 
ment, and has also traced the changes in South 
Jersey from its occupancy by the red men until 
the coming of Mr. Landis. 

The poem was written to commemorate the 
Fiftieth Anniversary of the founding of Vine- 
land, and was read by the author at the monthly 
meeting of the Vineland Historical and Antiqua- 
rian Society, Wednesday, January, it, 1911. 



VINELAND. 

When a wilderness or forest 

Covered this fair land, 
Oak and laurel fern and pine tree 

Grew in seeming sand, 

Came a man with an ideal 

And a vision too. 
Of a town with happy homesteads 

Where the forest grew. 

Saw he avenues and shade trees 

Where the oak held sway, 
Saw he church spires, schools and houses 

All along the way. 

Changed from nature's wilds to farm lands 

Yeilding good returns, 
Where for ages stood the pine tree 

Laurel and the ferns. 

T'was the same unbroken forest 

King Mahawksey owned; 
Heard and loved the solemn dirges 

As the pine tree moaned. 

Lived he in his home Washalla 

By the deep blue sea, 
Saw and loved the crested billow 
.Same as forest tree. 



VINELAND. 

Here he lived in peace and plenty 

Close to nature's heart, 
With his chiefs and tribal people 

Of himself a part. 

Yearly he with bow and arrow 

Left the salt sea air, 
Travelled northward to the mountains 

Of the Delaware. 

Marked a trail right through the forest. 

Chief Newsego led, 
Captured bear and flying reindeer 

With their stealthy tread. 

This same trail the northern Indians 

Travelled to the shore, 
To procure good fish and oysters 

For their winter's store. 

Once a year this tribal people 

Gathered in conclave. 
Men of medicine and wisdom 

Warriors and brave. 

Many timely feasts observed they 

Under heaven's dome, 
Some of them were sacrificial 

Some a "Harvest Home." 

Here they slept and dreamed and hunted 

In God's temples grand; 
Dried their clams and other sea fish 

On the river strand. 



VINELAND. 

lyoved the north wind, loved the south wind 

Feared the h'ghtnings flash; 
Heard the voice of the Great Spirit 

In the thunder crash. 

Soon the clouds began to gather — 

None like them before — 
First there came the cedar hunter, 

Then whale men to the shore. 

Sad their meiu this tribal people 

By aggressions made; 
Theirs the forest and the waters, 

Theirs the open glade. 

Then a final counsel held they 

Lasting many days, 
Seeking aid of the Great Spirit 

In their troubled ways. 

Near where counsel fire was burning 

Sat the old and wise, 
Chief Newsego rose among them 

Grave with tearful eyes, 

Pointing to the trail he told them 

Marked so plain and free 
From the hills will bring the pale face 

Onward to the sea 

Well he knew no sacrifices, 

Canticle nor dance, 
Wampum belts nor loudest warwhoops 

Would stay his advance. 



V I N E L A N D . 

Brothers we will travel westward 

E'er our race is run; 
There we'll find a place of resting, 

Near the setting sun. 

O'er the hills the tribes soon scattered, 

From the pale face fled; 
Left the forest, left Washalla 

By Newsego led. 

Then there came the old Swede settler 

With his fishing smack — 
Came where dwelt the Sewaposes 

On the Whatquenack. 

Built his church along the river — 

Maurice is the same — 
Sunken ship within its waters, 

Lives in river's name. 

Others say from old Prince Maurice 

River owes its name, 
Prince of Orange, Count of Nassau 

Gen'ral of much fame. 

Dutch and Swedes and Europeans 
Sought the red man's land, 

First known purchase from the Indians 
Was at Cape May strand. 

Soon the English took possession 

Of the middle zone; 
By discoveries of the Cabots 

Claimed it as their own. 

8 



VINELAND. 

Time passed on, the English "Griffin" 

Sailed the Delaware, 
Bringing Fenwick to his purchase, 

His divided share. 

Fenwick's tenth embraced our county- 
Cumberland we say — 

It was settled near the waters 
At an early day. 

But this side of Maurice river 

Forest ancient stood; 
Here and there a charcoal burner 

Living in the wood. 

When the founder of this borough 

Chanced to go this way. 
Saw this wilderness or forest 

Waiting for his day. 

Then he told his dearest mother 

Of his hopes and plan, 
How he'd change the old old forest, 

Into homes for man. 

Told her of the genial climate, 

Healthful balmy air. 
Short the snowy reign of winter. 

Sunny skies are there. 

Water pure as wells of Elim 
Where the palm trees stood, 

Can be found beneath the surface 
Sparkling clear and good. 



VINELAND. 

If I carry out my purpose 

Homes will soon appear; 
Ou each plot a habitation 

Built within a year. 

Homes with green sward all about them 

Shrubbery and shade; 
Garden beds with flowers of beauty 

Also will be made. 

Fertile farms of fruit and berry, 

Where stand forest tree. 
Will surround the business centre 

In my colony. 

Said he, that he knew for fruit trees 

Finest soil is found, 
In the oak lands of New Jersey 

T'is productive ground. 

Orchards, vineyards, miles of hedges, 

Avenues so wide; 
With a double row of shade trees 

Growing on each side. 

Art and nature mingling ever 

Beautiful t'will be; 
Vineland is the name I've chosen 

For my vine country. 

Free from taverns, I will make it — 

This my model town — 
Naught to tempt the coming settler 

Or to break men down. 



lo 



VINELAND. 

This stupendous undertaking. 

Clearing of this tract, 
Must be done by men of vigor, 

Sober men in fact, — 

For I never knew a pauper 

Made of sober men; 
They are ever always breediilg 

In a liqour den. 

Then I know how very sadly 

Liquor interferes. 
With the home and in the family 

Only bringeth tears, 

Happy homes and homes of beauty, 

I desire to see, 
Whether mansion or a cottage , 

Built by industry. 

Thus he spake and thus he reasoned 

From his very soul, 
With his vision and ideal 

Leading to the goal. 

Then his mother with devotion 

Listening to her son. 
Knew his plans would be accomplished 

Thought of Hammonton. 

Tlieu she gave him of her savings 

All she had in gold, 
Cheerfully, without a question 

None did she withold. 



VINELAND. 

Then he called in Penn's fair city 

On the owner there; 
Bargained with him for his wild land 

Prices must be fair. 

Pleased but cautious was the owner 
At this wondrous scheme. 

Changing his old Jersey forest — 
Was it all a dream? 

Then his wife she listened closely, 

As she heard him say, 
"Avenues for miles and broad ones 

Shade trees all the way." 

She then caution gave her husband, 

It is all in vain, 
"Richard thee had best be careful 

I think he's insane." 

Noway daunted still he sought him, 

Visits made each day; 
Wood suggested a beginning, 

Landis said "Ah nay," 

"Written must be my agreement 

We must contract sign, 
E're I start to build my city 

Or a road outline." 

Eager they consulted counsel 

But no gain thereby, 
Until Wood said "Mr. Landis 

Surely, we must try," 

12 



V I N E L A N D . 

"You write out such an agreement 

Suited to your mind, 
Bring to me and I'll peruse it 

Next day t'will be signed." 

Satisfactory he found it 

Changing just one word; 
Substituted wood for timber 

Which he much preferred . 

Thus was signed his own agreement, 

The transaction done — 
Just as war clouds dark were threat'nins 

Eighteen sixty-one. 

There he stood his plan perfected 

E're the work began, 
As a sculptor in the marble 

Sees his chiseled man. 

The first tree cut in the forest 

Fell by his own hand; 
Then the woodman's axe resounded 

Up and down the land. 

The same year the eighth of August 

Driven was first stake, 
It was done to mark the centre 

For a start to make. 

Trials had he sharp and bitter 

As the work progressed, 
Sometimes troubled, sometimes weary, 

As he oft confessed. 



V I N E L A N D . 

Millville people called him crazy, 

Where he found supplies; 
But he told them "you'll be gainers 

By this enterprise — 

"From these fertile farms and vineyards 

In ten years or more, 
Will be apples, grapes and peaches 

Offered at your door." 

Then from far famed old New England 

Came a settler here, 
Cleared his land and built a homestead 

In the forest drear. 

Others came and bought them small farms 

As the founder planned; 
Labored hard, and toiled and struggled 

To redeem the land. 

Vineland then had its Ijeginning. 

And in "sixty- four" 
Settlers came in larger numbers 

Than the years before. 

Yankees came with all their notions. 

Willing workers too, 
Built their churches, schools and houses 

On the avenue. 

Vineland's name became quite famous 

As a health resort. 
And it seemed that every nation 

Heard the glad report. 



V I N E L A N D . 

For the place grew just like magic 

Many taking farms, 
Came for health and came for climate 

Came for Vineland's charms. 

Came the weary worn out clergy, 

Tired professor too, 
Men of intellect and culture 

Seeking health anew. 

Came the tempted for a refuge. 

For no flaunting sign 
Of saloon or licensed places 

Stand with bold design. 

Time has made most wondrous changes 

Since the place began, 
Opened travel, linked the cities 

For the need of man. 

And to day the light of Vineland 

Like a beacon stands, 
With a bright and steady gleaming 

Over Jersey lands. 

And to day we thank the Founder 

For his vision clear; 
For his noble high ideal 

That he planted here. 

And to day we tell the stranger. 

Truthfully t'is so; 
Standing was the old old forest 

Fifty years ago. 



15 



DEC 80 1911 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



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014 209 346 7"^ 



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